Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
In all of these ahadith, there is mention in one way or another of the migration to Abyssinia (Hijrah to Habashah); this is why Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has brought these ahadith here.
From all these ahadith, it is also established that the funeral prayer in absentia (salat al-janazah ghaybiyyah) was performed for Najashi, even though some individuals have offered various interpretations here, but none of them carry any weight. What is correct is that which is established from the transmitted words of the apparent narrations.
And Allah knows best what is correct.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has established from these ahadith that Najashi died upon Islam; therefore, the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed his funeral prayer. The incident regarding Najashi’s acceptance of Islam that is commonly narrated was not according to Imam Bukhari’s conditions, so he presented such ahadith that indicate his being a Muslim.

➋
Since the topic was the migration to Abyssinia and the Muslims had migrated to Abyssinia, therefore, by extension, ahadith relating to the death of Najashi have been mentioned. Directly, this death has no connection to the migration to Abyssinia. Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has mentioned it for an additional benefit.

➌
The ruler of Abyssinia is called Najashi. His name was Ashamah, which translates to “gift” in Arabic. He believed in the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in absentia and passed away in the seventh or eighth year of Hijrah, before the conquest of Makkah.

➍
From all these ahadith, the permissibility of performing the funeral prayer in absentia (salat al-janazah al-gha'ib) is also established. Although some individuals have interpreted this incident in various ways, none of those interpretations carry any weight. The apparent wording of the narration indicates that the funeral prayer in absentia is permissible.

➎
The funeral prayer in absentia is not for every deceased person, but rather for such a personality who has rendered national, communal, political, or scholarly services. For, during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, hundreds of companions passed away in his absence, but he did not perform the funeral prayer in absentia for any of them; only for Najashi was the funeral prayer in absentia arranged. And Allah knows best.

1974. Commentary: In this narration, Imam Zuhri has two teachers: Ibn Musayyib and Abu Salamah. It appears that the Imam’s intention is that he remembers the mention of Abu Salamah in the chain accurately, but he is uncertain about Ibn Musayyib—whether he is mentioned in this narration or not, although in other narrations his mention is certainly found. It is possible that when Imam Nasa’i rahimahullah’s teacher, Muhammad ibn Rafi’, narrated this hadith, the Imam rahimahullah may not have been able to hear it properly due to the large number of people or the teacher’s soft voice. And Allah knows best.

1982. Commentary: In some narrations, more than four takbirs (saying "Allahu Akbar") in the funeral prayer are reported, even up to nine. After the death of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, it is also established from some Companions radi Allahu anhum that they said more than four takbirs. Therefore, diversity in practice is preferable. However, if one is to adhere to only one of the mentioned methods, then acting upon four takbirs is better and more virtuous, because this was the general practice of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. For details and research, see Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah’s "Ahkam al-Jana'iz", pp. 141–146.